Location means for rafter on columns

ABSTRACT

Means for locating and securing rafters defined by at least two similar units on and relative to columns serving to support an end of the rafter provided with a first location means between the column top and the end of the first of the rafter units and a second location means between the column side and a plate extending laterally of and into the joint between the similar units in which the first and second location means also serve as a means for securing the rafter units to the column.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,910,002

Lough Oct. 7, 1975 1 1 LOCATION MEANS FOR RAFTER ON 3,389,525 6/1968Moody 52/714 COLUMNS 3,513,610 5/1970 Devonport. 52/283 3,665,665 5/1972Soum 52/251 Inventor: David Royle g 21 Everton 3,721,056 3/1973 Toan52/263 x T W 11' t N Z l er e mg ew ea and 1 FOREIGN PATENTS oRAPPLICATIONS [22] Flled: SePt- 1973 257,119 9/1967 Germany 52/227 [21]Appl. No.: 399,443

Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman [30]Forelgn Apphcanon Pnomy Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & SternSept. 21, 1972 New Zealand 168457 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 52/283;52/263; 52/251 [51] Int. 01. E04B 1/00 Means for locatmg and Securmgrafters defined by at [58] Field of Search 0 52/272 251 252, 721, leasttwo similar units on and relative to columns serv- 52/722 283 583, 726,250 260 289 263 ing to support an end of the rafter provided with afirst 52/712 714 & locatlon means between the column top and the end ofthe first of the rafter units and a second location [56] ReferencesCited means between the column side and a plate extending laterally ofand into the joint between the similar units UNITED STATES PATENTS inwhich the first and second location means also l,89l,597 .lagdmann serveas a means for ecuring the rafter units to the 2,569,669 10/1951Henderson... 52/283 column 3,074,209 l/1963 Henderson... 52/252 X3,372,518 3/1968 Rensch 52/263 X 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent00:. 7,1975

LOCATION MEANS FOR:RAFTER ON. COLUIVINS:

BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to location means foror as between rafters or beams for buildings and upright columns forsupporting such rafters, which location means mayalso serve assecurement means therebetween.

More particularly this invention relates to the location and to thelocation and securing of composite .raf-

ters or beams. 1 a

By the temq composite rafters is meant rafters constructed of two ormore units which may or may not be identical, which units are jointed orfastenedtogether to form a single rafter or beam of a lengthdeterminedby the number of such unitsused'in the construction of such a rafter.The'term rafter as used herein is to be taken-asa reference to acomposite rafter.

'lt is'an object of this invention to provide positive means for thelocation and securing of the distal ends of rafters to the upper ends ofcolumns designed to sup port such rafters. a

PRIOR TECHNIQUES In the construction of portal-type buildings, columnsare erected and rafters are fabricated on or off the site and when onthe site are lifted, usually by a crane'int'o approximately the correctposition when they are lowered onto the top of the columns forsecurement thereto. Hitherto, the system hasbeen to lower the rafteronto the top of the columns and align bolt holesin both the tops of thecolumns and ends of the rafters and slide a bolt through the alignedholes to securethe rafters to the tops' o'f'the column.

Such an'arrangement hasthe difficulty that it is necessary"'fortheho'les tobe'aligned and once'alig'ned to maintain alignment'while thebolt is slid through the holes. Difficulties can arise in ende'avoringto keep the holes aligned for 'a sufficient length of time forthe boltto be passed through the holes.

It is a further object of thisinvention'to overcome this disadvantageand permit the rafter to be lowered ontothe columns ahd, in the lastpart ofthe lowering operation, the location means of this inventionacting to position or locatethe'rafter as it is lowered into'jux- 5apositi'o'n with this column.

"MSUMMARYOHF THE INVENTION According tothis in've ntion jth ere isprovided means i for locating raft ers 'on and relative to columnsadapted i to support an end of sucha rafter includinga firs t locationbetween the top of the column and the end of the rafter and a secondlocation means between "the side of the columnanda" plate, extendinglaterally of and into the joint between adjacent units composing saidrafter.

Further according to this invention, there is provided' means forlocating and securing rafters on and to columns adapted to support anend of such a rafter including of the projection of oronthe, rafter issuch that with, the rafterresting on top of the column, the projectionand hole in the lug may be. aligned. The lug may be an upstandingabutment formedintegrally with the column or. may be a separate integercast into, the column with that portion in which thehole is locatedextending from the column. The projection may be formed by an extensionof a reinforcing tendon or a pin cast into the rafter or a pin rod,shaft, or bolt welded to or formed integrally with) thereinforcingtendon end plate at the butt end of the rafter. This arrangement forms asuit-- able first locationmeans between the .top

of the column and the end of the rafter.

Projecting from andformed or formed integrally with or cast into thecolumn and being substantially parallel to the axis of the rafter(whenthe latter is in position), may be provided a second projectionadapted to bereceived in a hole provided in a lug-formed integrally witha plate secured to said rafter and between adjacent units composing therafter. The arrangement described in this paragraph forms a suitablesecond location means between the side of the column and the platesecured between adjacent units of the rafter; I

When the projection on the end of the rafter is ac'-' commodated withinthe hole in the lug in the'colurnn, simila'rlythe projection from thecolumn is accommodated within the hole in the lug of the plate securedbetween adjacent units of'whichthe rafter is composed. The secondprojection, being that projectingfrom the column, may be inthe fo'rmofabolt, a'pin or an extension of a reinforcing tendon on the'column.

Alternatively, the projections (one extendingfrom the end of the beamandtheother from the column) may be disposed with their axes at anoblique angle to the axis of the rafter. i

Where the projections are formed from a metal (which, while usefullymaybe a suitable alloy or aluminum or of bronze is preferably steel),the distal ends thereof may be screw threaded to threadly receive anutor may be slotted to receivea wedge so as to'be capable of securingthe end of the rafter to thecolumn. Alternatively, when the rafter islocated in position, the

two p rojections' may be bonded by a suitable known indu'strial bondingmaterial or welded to their respective lugs or may be deformed in arivet-like manner to achieve securement of the rafter to the top of thecolumn; g

However, the projections, by their co-operation with their respectivelugs 'rnay merely serve to locate the rafter in relation to the'beam andseparate securing means may be used, for example a bolt or bolts passingthrough aligned holes in therafter and column or straps spectively,either the column or rafter. Another operable arrangementwould be athree sided abutment or socket located on either or both the rafter orcolumn and adapted to receive a complementary portion. of respectively,the columnor rafter.

Further while the above general description of the invention makesreference to only one securement means each between the top of thecolumn and the end of the rafter on the one hand and between the side ofcolumn and said lug'or plate on the other hand, two or more suchsecurement means may be used at either or both positions shouldindividual circumstances so dictate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many modifications of the abovedescribed invention may be made without departing from the spirit orscope thereof and by way of example only and not by way of limitationreference will be made to one form, of the invention with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of aunit for use in forming therafters and FIG. 2 shows a side elevation ofone aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, a column andrafter formed of a plurality of units constructed of a castablematerial. and of the type described.

The column, generally indicated by arrow 1 is composed of a desirednumber of standard units 2 (as shown in FIG. 1).

Slightly widened special column sections 3 are placed on column beamunit 2 to which is secured a knee joint generally indicated at 4 andcomprising a base section 5 and a laterally extending portion 6.

The rafter, generally indicated at 7, is composed of a series of unit 2which, with suitable stressing form the rafter 7.

Extending from and cast into the lateral portion 6, towards the basesection 5 of the knee joint is a lug unit 8, that portion of whichextending from the lateral portion 6 forming the lug itself which isindicated at numeral 9.

Cast into and extending from distal end of the lateral portion 6 atright angles to the lug 9 is a bolt 11.

Secured to end plate 711 of the rafter (to which the ends of thereinforcing tendons of the rafter may be secured) is a bolt 12 whoseaxis is parallel to the axis of the rafter 2 and whose positioning issuch that with the rafter 7 resting on the lateral portion 6, the bolt12 is aligned so as to be accommodated within a suitable hole providedin the lug 9.

The distance of the lug 9 from the end 10 of the lateral portion 6 is,in this described form of the invention, commensurate with the length ofone unit 2 such that a plate 13 may be bonded between the last two units2 and thus stressed into the rafter, so as to provide a lug 14 extendinglaterally from the rafter 7. A hole may be provided in lug 14 adapted tohave accommodated therewithin the end of the bolt 11.

In the positioning and securing of the rafter 7 to two columns it willbe appreciated that the rafter may be formed as an inverted V, each endof which is adapted to be secured to the column of the type shown inFIG. 2.

Thus, the rafter. usually with a supporting cradle is lifted by a craneto a position such that the ends of the rafter are positionedimmediately above the lateral portion 6 of the rafters two supportingcolumns.

When the rafter is lowered, the bolt 12 is guided so as to pass throughthe hole in the lug 9 and the lug 14 is guided so as to pass over thebolt 11. Thus, the lowering of the rafter onto its supporting beams is asimple exercise and locates the beam by virtue of the locating of thebolt 12 in the hole of the lug 9 and the bolt 11 in the hole in the lug14. i

To achieve the securement of the rafter to the column nuts may beengaged on the bolts 12 and 11 and tightening same to secure the rafterin its position.

FIG. 2 shows a Y form to the top of the column 1 for supporting raftersin the center of a large building. Where the column 1 is on the outsideof the building, integers 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and 8a will not, of course, bethere and the profile of the column will follow the broken line 15.

Thus, by this invention, there is provided an improved means for thesecuring of rafters of the type described to columns.

I claim:

1. Means for locating and securing a rafter defined by at least twosimilar units arranged in end to end jointing relationship on andrelative to a column for supporting an end of such rafter, with thecolumn having an upper end surface and a distal side surface extendingnormal to the upper end surface, said means including a first lugprojecting from the upper end surface of the column, said first lughaving an aperture therein, a first bolt extending from the butt end ofthe rafter, the axis of the first bolt being substantially parallel tothe axis of the rafter, a second bolt projecting from the distal sidesurface of the column and extending substantially parallel to the axisof the rafter, a second lug secured between the joining ends of theunits and extending laterally therefrom, the second lug having anaperture therein, the apertures of the first and second lugs, when therafter is in position, receiving the first and second bolts, and meanscooperable with each of the bolts for securing the rafter to the upperend surface and the distal side surface of the column.

2. The means for locating and securing a raftere as claimed 'in claim 1in which the location of the aperture in the first lug and thepositioning of the first bolt, the location of the aperture in thesecond lug and the positioning of the second bolt are such that thebolts and the apertures in the lugs can be aligned.

1. Means for locating and securing a rafter defined by at least twosimilar units arranged in end to end jointing relationship on andrelative to a column for supporting an end of such rafter, with thecolumn having an upper end surface and a distal side surface extendingnormal to the upper end surface, said means including a first lugprojecting from the upper end surface of the column, said first lughaving an aperture therein, a first bolt extending from the butt end ofthe rafter, the axis of the first bolt being substantially parallel tothe axis of the rafter, a second bolt projecting from the distal sidesurface of the column and extending substantially parallel to the axisof the rafter, a second lug secured between the joining ends of theunits and extending laterally therefrom, the second lug having anaperture therein, the apertures of the first and second lugs, when therafter is in position, receiving the first and second bolts, and meanscooperable with each of the bolts for securing the rafter to the upperend surface and the distal side surface of the column.
 2. The means forlocating and securing a raftere as claimed in claim 1 in which thelocation of the aperture in the first lug and the positioning of thefirst bolt, the location of the aperture in the second lug and thepositioning of the second bolt are such that the bolts and the aperturesin the lugs can be aligned.